Apple Faces Class Action from Authors Over Alleged Use of Copyrighted Works in AI Training

A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Apple by a group of authors, led by Tasha Alexander, accusing the company of copyright infringement. The plaintiffs allege that Apple utilized millions of pirated books obtained from online “shadow libraries” like Books3, LibGen, and Z-Library to train its AI models, including OpenELM and Foundation Language Models. These models are now integrated into Apple’s devices, such as iPhones, iPads, and Macs. The authors claim Apple copied their works without authorization, failing to provide notification, credit, or compensation, and that this constitutes willful copyright infringement under the Copyright Act of 1976.

The lawsuit argues that Apple’s actions do not qualify as fair use due to the extensive and commercial nature of the copying, which directly impacts the market for their books. The case highlights the ongoing legal debate surrounding copyright law and AI training, as existing legal guidance has not kept pace with the rapid development of large language models. The plaintiffs point to Apple’s practice of paying licensing fees for visual data (like from Shutterstock) while not doing so for literary works as evidence of recognizing the commercial value of copyrighted content.

The proposed class action seeks statutory damages, restitution, and an injunction to prevent further unauthorized use of their works. The outcome of this case, along with similar lawsuits against other tech companies, will likely shape the legal standards governing the use of copyrighted material in AI development.

(Source：Law Commentary)